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Passau is a town in southeastern Germany that often is referred to as the "Three Rivers City" thanks to its location at the confluence of the Ilz, Inn and Danube rivers. Passau's old town was created in the 17th century and features a variety of baroque architecture culminating in St. Stephen's Cathedral, home to the world's largest pipe organ.

History

Passau was originally a Celtic settlement called Bojodurum, which existed around 300 B.C. Between A.D. 80 and 476, it was the site of the Castra Batava Roman camp. In 739, the first bishop arrived in Passau, and in 1217 the resident bishops were made princes and ruled the city until 1803. During the Renaissance, Passau was one of Germany's most prolific manufacturers of swords and bladed weapons. In 1662, a majority of Passau was consumed in a fire and was later rebuilt in baroque style.

Climate

Passau has a typically northern European climate with warm summers and cold winters. The best time to visit Passau is between July and August when the temperature is around 80 degrees. December and January are the coldest months with average temperatures of around 35 degrees. The upside of a January visit is that rainfall is at its lowest, averaging around 3 inches per month. The summer months see the highest rainfall, with up to 16 inches falling in June.

Sights

Passau's main square is dominated by an ornate 18th-century building constructed for the town's bishops to hold court in. The nearby Rathaus is a grand Gothic building finished with a 19th century painted tower. Veste Oberhaus is a 13th century fortress that affords views of the city and into neighboring Austria. The Romermuseum contains a number of military and civilian artifacts unearthed in Passau and eastern Bavaria. The Passauer Glasmuseum also is worth a visit as it is filled with around 30,000 pieces of glass and crystal from the classical, baroque, art deco and art nouveau periods.

Entertainment

Passau's large student population helps support a variety of bars, clubs, restaurants and live music venues. Hacklberger Braüstüberl is a microbrewery with a pleasant park-like garden in which to enjoy its various beers. Café Kowalski is adjacent to the Inn River and serves wine, beer and sandwiches. Camera is a predominantly dance-orientated club, but does host the occasional live band. The Scharfrichter Kino is a cultural center playing host to traditional German cabaret and theater.

Accommodations

Passau has a range of accommodation options, from hotels brimming with baroque elegance to cheap and cheerful youth hostels. Visitors can choose to stay in Passau's modern center, its old town or the suburbs. Most hotels are reasonably priced, but for a super-cheap option try spending a night under canvas at the Dreiflüsse Campingplatz campsite.

References

About the Author

Justin Schamotta began writing in 2003. His articles have appeared in "New Internationalist," "Bizarre," "Windsurf Magazine," "Cadogan Travel Guides" and "Juno." He was a deputy editor at Corporate Watch and co-editor of "BULB" magazine. Schamotta has a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Plymouth University and a postgraduate diploma in journalism from Cardiff University.

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